The Creative Writing Programme

Do you want to learn how to write poetry? Our beginners course offers an opportunity to find out more about poetry, and discover the key elements of a poem together with the different forms.

Over the course of the eight weeks, you will experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside your fellow emerging poets. The weekly practical exercises will teach you to write in a variety of styles and forms. In the group discussions, you will examine the work of published poets and explore different styles and techniques.

By the end of the eight weeks, you will have a greater understanding of poetry; be able to draft and edit poems including experimental poetic forms; create original imagery; and edit your own work.

The course is delivered through weekly seminars which run for two and a half hours. Your classes will take place in the cosy Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton and are run by Roy Mcfarlane, who has published numerous collections alongside being the former Birmingham Poet Laureate, Canal Laureate and Birmingham & Midlands Institute Poet in Residence. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded a Doctor of Letters by the University of Wolverhampton. 

There will be opportunities for poets to present work, ideas and practical exercises and to suggest topics for discussion, should they so wish. Between meetings, you will be able to share work and raise questions around writing technique with other writers in the group through the interactive webpage for the course. 

Approaches to Writing, Monday morning group (In-person) at the Friends Meeting House

Tactics for Writing, Monday morning group (In-person) at the Friends Meeting House

Approaches to Writing, Monday evening group (Online) 

Tactics for Writing, Monday evening group (Online) 

Approaches to Life Writing, Monday evening group (In-person) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Memory and Imagination, Monday evening group (In-person) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Story Structure, Tuesday morning group (In-person) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Writing Workshops, Tuesday morning group (In-person) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Advanced Poetry Workshop, Tuesday morning group (Online) 

Story Structure, Tuesday evening group (Blended) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Writing Workshops, Tuesday evening group (Blended) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Story Structure, Wednesday morning group (Online) 

Writing Workshops, Wednesday morning group (Online) 

Approaches to Writing, Wednesday evening group (In-person) at the Friends Meeting House

Tactics for Writing, Wednesday evening group (In-person) at the Friends Meeting House

Advanced Writing Writing, Wednesday group (In-person) at the Kemptown Bookshop

Advanced Poetry Workshop, Wednesday 3.30pm - 6pm group (In-person) at the Friends Meeting House

This is the tutor page for tutors on the Creative Writing Programme to share ideas and materials.